April - Recovery of pitches continues

Pitch 4 re-seeded

Pitch 1 re-seeded

STAY OFF PLEASE!!

Pitch 2 – 1^st May reseeding (approx.)

Pitch 3 – 1^st May reseeding (approx.)

Mini Rugby

P1 and P2 last week welcomed CI to Shawsbridge and enjoyed some great games

P3 to P6 also attended the Ballyclare festival and had a great time

This coming week P1 to P6 are playing at home against Cooke

08:45 meet for a 9:00 kick off

Mini Rugby – P7s

Last week entered the Ballyclare festival played 4 and won 4

This week

Thursday 20th - coaching 18:00 to 19:00

Saturday 22nd - coaching 08:45 to 10:00

Sunday - we welcome Edinburgh Accies to the club for a fixture - 10:30 kick off

Friday 28th - P7 tour to Edinburgh leaving Shawsbridge at 05:30

U12s

Tuesday 18th - coaching 18:30 to 19:30

Thursday 20th - no coaching

Friday 21^st

One squad at home v Donaghadee, Bangor and Academy

Meet time 18:30

One squad at Ulster match

Tuesday 25th - coaching 18:30 to 19:30

Thursday 27th - coaching

Friday 28th - Donaghadee festival details to follow

U12s – Girls

U12 girls hosting a let's play event:

Sunday 23rd April 11-12.30

U14s

Last weekend saw the team visit BHFP Festival playing 4 games.

A great day and many thanks to the hosting Club.

We came away with 3 wins and a narrow loss

Sunday 16th we hosted Ayr U14 a Scottish Touring side in a last-minute fixture.

Great Rugby was played by both sides and friendships have been formed.

Huge thank you to the Coaching Team and parents who came together to make this happen with less than 24hrs notice

U14 No coaching on Monday 17th back to coaching on Wednesday 19th

Upcoming events

23rd Quins Festival

26th Home to Quins

29th Home to Carrick

3rd May End of Season BBQ with U12,U14,16

U16s

U16 played at Ards RFC Festival on Sat

Winning against Ards and losing narrowly to strong CIYMS, Academy & Quins sides.

Fixture this Wed 19th Vs Ards at Shawsbridge 19:30 KO.

Sun 23rd Quins Festival 2:30pm.

Sat 29th away to Academy 11am KO.

3rd May end of season BBQ with U12/14

U18s

No details

U21s Academy

Coaching with the 3^rd XV & 4^th XV

3rd & 4th XV

The 3rds finished their season on Friday evening against a very strong Banbridge 4s team at Shaws Bridge. Unfortunately the result didn't go our way with the visitors running our 28-7 winners on the night.

This concludes the season during which the 3rds played 18 matches, winning 11, including winning the Forster Plate.

Over the season over 50 players were used, including 6 U18s who all made their debuts for the team since Christmas.

Thank you to all the coaches and players for their great enthusiasm and hard work in ensuring it's been an enjoyable and fairly successful year.

4^th XV

This development team lost 0-38 to an experienced BHSFP 2^nd XV

4s have their final match of the season this coming Saturday

Home against PSNI 2^nd XV, usual 2.30pm kick off

2nd XV

Season over – won their league

Now preparing for next year

1st XV

Last Saturday we travelled with a large support

Away to 2^nd place Tullamore

Came away with a 68-29 bonus point win

18 wins out of 18, all with bonus points.

A record that has never been done before.
A record that cannot be beaten.

Rickety!!

Massive thank you to Laura for organising the supporters coach.

Match report for 1st XV win at Tullamore that makes it a perfect season - is on the club website.

http://www.instonians.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=4364:1st-xv-make-a-perfect-season-with-win-at-tullamore-rfc&catid=1:1st-xv&Itemid=14

“Next job!!”

Division 2B is the next challenge!!

For adults team results and league tables go to Ulster Rugby & IRFU Website

Ulster Rugby | Ulster Rugby

1st XV – Ulster Rugby Premiership Division 2

2nd XV - League Table Ulster Rugby Provincial Premier Division 2

3rd XV - League Table Ulster Rugby Provincial East 1 – Phase 2

4th XV – League Table Ulster Rugby Regional East 1- Phase 2

https://www.irishrugby.ie/all-ireland-leagues-old/men/league-tables/

1st XV – Division 2C

Full domestic fixtures on Ulster Branch Website

Ulster Rugby | Ulster Rugby

1st XV – Ulster Rugby Premiership Division 2

2nd XV - League Table Ulster Rugby Provincial Premier Division 2

3rd XV - League Table Ulster Rugby Provincial East 1 – Phase 2

4th XV - League Table Ulster Rugby Regional East 1 – Phase 2

https://www.irishrugby.ie/all-ireland-leagues-old/men/league-tables/

1st XV – Division 2C

Articles to read or listen to:

IRFU AIL last weekend – results and round up

https://www.irishrugby.ie/2023/04/15/energia-all-ireland-league-mens-divisions-round-18-results-round-up/

Belfast Telegraph – AIL Round Up

https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sunday-life/sport/all-ireland-league-rugby-banbridge-to-fight-for-division-1b-status-in-play-offs-as-malone-relegated/1342841643.html

Good year for Ulster teams:
City Of Armagh promoted to 1A
Queens promoted to 1B

Instonians promoted to 2B

Clogher Valley promoted to All Ireland League 2C

Only negative was the relegation of Malone to 2A

Other information & future Events

Thurs 27^th April – Adult Team & Squad photos

7pm
Get your team together for a photo they will cherish!!

Sat 29th April – Carrick 7s

Get down to watch Instonians

Rugby Club AGM & Awards

Coming soon
Watch out for the date

Wed 3rd May – Youth Section BBQ

Fri 19^th May

Instonians Rugby Club End of Season Players Dinner and Awards

7pm - Pre Dinner Drinks

7.30pm - Player and Club Awards

8.15pm - 4 Course Dinner

9.30pm - Speeches with Guest Speaker

£30 per person

Player and partner ticket pre-sale open between:

Monday 17th April and Monday 24th April (Total Ticket Number Limited)

Rest of Club purchase from Tuesday 25th April.

Only fully paid up members of the Club are eligible to purchase tickets.

Dress Code Club Blazer or Smart Casual.

Contact:

How to pay your 22/23 club membership

Hello all

Please find link below for payment of your 2022/23 Club membership fees.

Our apologies that this is so late in the season but due to a number of issues with the release of Instonians 1App, we have had to set up this one-off process to capture fees before the current season concludes.

1App will be up and running shortly and will be used from next season going forward.

As you will all be aware, it takes a significant amount of money to keep our Club running and players on the pitch. Our promotion to AIL last season alone instantly added £25,000 in costs to the Club. Membership fees from players at Minis to 1st XV, Non-Playing Members, Pensioner members etc only cover a very small percentage of those costs. The rest is covered by sponsorship, fundraising activities, a small amount of shared bar profit etc.

Therefore, every single penny we raise in membership fees is crucial to ensure ongoing success across all of our teams. As such, we are all required to pay our way. No one is exempt.

Please click of the link and select the Player Option to make payment.

https://www.seahorsesminirugby.co.uk/senior-registration/

Please complete payment within 5 working days at the latest by Friday 7th April.

Thanks

Clem Boyd – Director of Rugby

Peter Bradley – Chairman of Instonians Rugby Club

Neil Gillies – Chairman of Instonians Executive Committee

1st XV Full Fixture List

Full Fixture List